Spring is almost here and many people will be cleaning their homes to welcome the new season, but you may want to wash your bedding sooner if you spot any yellow stains.
Pillows and other bedding items become yellow due to sweat build up in the fabric, which happens in the winter as there is more humidity indoors due to radiators being on and windows being kept closed.
Yellow bedding not only looks unkept but these stains are unhygienic – and the accumulation of bacteria can cause skin irritation and make your bed smell so it will be unpleasant to sleep in.
However, David Smith from the Down and Feather Company, has explained it is easy to wash pillows and bedding to get them white again and all you need is some “everyday household staples” you likely already have at home.
David said: “Create a paste using lemon juice and baking soda, then gently rub it onto the yellow stains.
“Let it sit for about 30 minutes before rinsing thoroughly and allowing the pillow to dry.”
Lemon juice is a simple way to whiten fabric as it is a natural bleaching agent, and will break down yellowing and any other discolouration on fabric.
Baking soda is also useful as it is mildly abrasive, which means it will loosen tough stains and lift any grime from the fabric which will enhance the whitening effect of the lemon juice.
This is an easy way to remove sweat stains from fabric without having to use bleach, which should never be used to remove yellow stains as the chemicals will react to the minerals in sweat to make the staining worse.
How to use lemon juice and baking soda to whiten bedding
Before you begin, make sure to check the label on your pillows and other bedding items as it will tell you if they can go in the wash.
David said: “It’s important to read care labels and test any cleaning solution on a small, inconspicuous area before applying it to the entire pillow. Different fabrics and pillow types may react differently to cleaning methods.”
If your bedding cannot be placed in the washing machine, then pretreat it by mixing lemon juice and baking soda together until it forms a paste.
Apply the paste to the stained area, leave it for at least 30 minutes and then place your pillows or other bedding in the wash like normal.
Alternatively, you can apply 120ml and 60g of baking soda directly into the washing machine drum along with your bedding, then place on a regular hot wash.
Once the laundry is done, hang them outside if you can as the ultravoilet rays in sunlight will also naturally whiten fabric and remove stains as it will react to the citric acid in lemon juice.
David said: “Sunlight can help naturally bleach and freshen pillows. After spot treating or washing, hang the pillows in direct sunlight to dry.
“Rotate them occasionally for even exposure and ensure they are completely dry before using them again.”
When you take your pillows and other white bedding off the line they should be completely rid of stains so you can enjoy a fresh comfy bed to sleep on at night.
